Judges 1: Lessons from the Book and Chapter 1

God remains faithful, even when we are unfaithful to Him (2 Tim. 2:13)1

Overview for the book of Judges: What happens when a country’s leaders fail to exhort their citizens to live according to God’s standards of morality? The book of Judges answers that question. Over time, society will take God’s mercy and grace for granted. In most cases, society will also come to adopt a “libertarian” world view of morality. Each person will do whatever is right in their own eyes. Each person will also pick and choose between the standards that God teaches in the Bible and mankind’s standards. Just as it is today, this was how the Jews lived between the time of Joshua’s death and the establishment of the monarchy: “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” (Jdgs. 17:6; 21:25).

Both then and now, God warns believers not to adopt a libertarian standard of morality: “You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes;” (Dt. 12:8). He knows that if believers accept all types of morality as equal, they will compromise their walk. For the Jews, He knew that they would eventually become “ensnared” by the practices of the Canaanites if the Jews did not kill them. These included child sacrifices, temple prostitution, and idolatry (Ex. 23:33). Because of these practices, the Canaanites were under God’s judgment (Gen. 15:13-16). The Jews were the instruments of His judgment against the Canaanites: “and when the LORD your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them.” (Dt. 7:2; 7:16; 20:16). Only women and children could be spared (Dt. 20:14).

Seven themes to the book of Judges. Samson, the presumed author of the book, wrote it after the Jews established a monarchy and order. Four times, he stressed the absence of a king (Jdgs. 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). His inspired writings are divided into three sections. These include a prologue (1:1-3:6), which documents the compromise of Israel. The main body documents those whom God sent to deliver the people (3:7-16:31). The epilogue provides the conclusion (chapters 17-21). Samson was moved to document the cycle of sin that fell upon the Jews as they turned to the world and away from God. Throughout the book, the people ignored God and either embraced evil or allowed it to fester around them. When sin overcame them, the people then cried out for help. Out of mercy and grace, the Holy Spirit raised up leaders to help deliver the people. Yet, once freed of their oppression, the people returned to sin. This cycle then repeated. Through these cycles of sin, God reveals seven themes for all believers.

1) Faith. A prominent theme of the book is the faithfulness of God and the faithlessness of His people. In Genesis, He introduced His Covenant to turn the Jews into a great nation and give them the Promised Land. Between the books of Exodus and Joshua, He repeatedly demonstrated His faithfulness to the Jews. This included countless miracles. It also included delivering the Jews from bondage, guiding, feeding and protecting them in the wilderness, defeating their enemies, and delivering the Promised Land. Under Joshua’s leadership, the people remembered and celebrated His faithfulness. Just before his death, they renewed their Covenant with God (Josh. 24). Yet, after Joshua’s passing, the Jews took God’s many miracles and His faithfulness for granted. They no longer believed that God alone was enough for them. Out of a lack of faith, they failed to fully seize their spiritual inheritance. Among other things, they failed to fully drive out the remaining indigenous peoples as God had commanded. As a result, they suffered. As a related aspect of faith, believers are warned to trust God and not to lean upon either their own understanding or what the world may tell them (Prov. 3:5). The way that seems right to mankind leads to death (Prov. 14:12; 16:25). The Jews did not fully trust God. Thus, they failed to fight their enemies. Or, they kept them as servants because they believed that they needed them (Jdgs. 1:28-33). Their failure to fully have faith in Him led to sin and sorrow.

2) Compromise. God also commanded His people to be sanctified and holy for His use. ‘“For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.”’ (Lev. 11:45). He commanded them to drive out the indigenous peoples because He knew that their evil practices ranging from temple prostitution, fertility gods, and other forms of idolatry would become a snare to them. “Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst.” (Ex. 34:12). “so that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the LORD your God.” (Dt. 20:18). Without the faith to fully drive the peoples out, the Jews began to make compromises with the indigenous peoples. They began to mix God’s standards with the religious practices of the Canaanites. Over time, the Jews’ worship became corrupted. The Jews also lost sight of their purpose as His chosen people. They embraced the pagan culture around them and ceased to be a salt and light to the nations (Is. 42:6). These lessons apply today. Westerners have taken God for granted. They have also made compromises with the secular world around them. This includes embracing practices that He has called evil (Ro. 1:18-21).

3) Judgment. The Jews repeatedly rejected God. As a result, He judged them: “Many times He would deliver them; they, however, were rebellious in their counsel, and so sank down in their iniquity.” (Ps. 106:43). When His people turned from Him and refused to repent, He lifted His hedge of protection and allowed for curses to disciple His people. These curses became progressively stronger when the people refused to repent (Lev. 26:14-45; Dt. 28:15-68). A believer in Christ today is no longer under the curse of the Law. He took that curse for each believer and will forgive a believer when he or she repents (1 Jo. 1:9). Yet, for a nation, there is no promise in the New Testament that will free it from these curses when it collectively turns from God. These curses can include natural disasters, war, and disease. Believers who fail to defend God’s morality out of fear that they might offend will endure these same curses as the nation. Unless the Church can return western civilization back to God’s standard of morality, He will judge the nations. His judgment will begin with His people: “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet. 4:17). Thus, the book of Judges should serve as a wakeup call to the Church. It must return to God’s standards of morality. It must lead by example and preach His standards to a sinful society. Like the judges, the Holy Spirit will give power to those seeking to lead the people back to God.

4) Deliverance. As part of God’s grace, He raised up imperct leaders to deliver the Jews when they cried out from their judgment: “Then the LORD raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them.” (Jdgs. 2:16). “After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.” (Acts 13:20). Representing the fullness of the Spirit, God raised up 12 judges. These included: (1) Othniel (3:9-11); (2) Ehud (3:15-30); (3) Shamgar (3:31); (4) Deborah and Barak jointly (4:4-5:31); (5) Gideon (6:11-9:32); (6) Tola (10:1-2); (7) Jair (10:3-5); (8) Jephthah (11:1-12:7); (9) Ibzan (12:8-9); (10) Elon (12:11-12); (11) Abdon (12:13-15); and (12) Samson (15:1-16:31). In the Bible, the number 12 symbolizes His perfect government. There were 12 tribes and 12 disciples. These individuals are all considered judges “shoftim” (שופטים) (male -“shofet” (שופט) female - “shofetet” (שופטת)). Yet, with the possible exception of Deborah (4:4-5), these people did not serve as the role of a judge over any type of legal proceeding. They were instead given power to deliver. In many cases, the Holy Spirit gave them supernatural powers (Jdgs. 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14; 1 Sam. 10:6, 10; 11:6; 16:13). The Holy Spirit gave these leaders power so that they could lead the people back to God, a task that even they frequently failed at. Some are remembered in the New Testament as heroes of the faith (Heb. 11:32). Others failed in their calling. Each major deliverer generally grew more sinful than the prior deliverers. Gideon reminded the Jews that Yahweh was their true deliverer: “But Gideon said to them, ‘I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.”’ (Jdgs. 8:23; 11:27). Nehemiah also made clear that Yahweh was the one true deliverer: “Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them, but when they cried to You in the time of their distress, You heard from heaven, and according to Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who delivered them from the hand of their oppressors. But as soon as they had rested, they did evil again before You; therefore You abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they ruled over them. When they cried again to You, You heard from heaven, and many times You rescued them according to Your compassion,” (Neh. 9:27-28). Yahweh’s role as deliverer is emphasized by the fact that the term “judge / shofet” is only used once as a title in reference to Him. During Jephthah’s address to the Jews, he called Yahweh their “judge / shofet”. (Jdgs. 11:27). This pointed to Jesus, who is mankind’s deliverer or “shofet”. Isaiah prophesied the Messiah who would deliver mankind (Is. 61:1). Jesus later fulfilled this prophecy (Lk. 4:18-21; Jo. 3:16).

God sent delivers to every part of the Promised Land2

5) Obedience. Each time God delivered the Jews and answered their cries for help, they sadly fell back into sin. This cycle of sin, bondage, cries for help, and deliverance repeats throughout the book. The Jews failed to break the cycle because they lacked obedience. Moses and Joshua frequently exhorted the Jews to be obedient to God’s Covenant, which centered around the Ten Commandments (e.g., Dt. 6:3-4; 9:1; 20:3; Josh. 1:7). Yet, like society today, they refused to remain obedient. Christians should never be misled into believing that obedience will lead to salvation (Gal. 2:21). The New Testament is clear that Christians are not “under the law” in the sense that they must comply with it to be saved (Gal. 5:18; Ro. 7:6; 8:3; Matt. 5:17). Even when you try, you cannot be righteous before God without Christ (Ps. 143:2; Ro. 3:10, 20; 4:15). Yet, Jesus also says that, if you love Him, we will keep His Commandments: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (Jo. 14:15, 21; 15:10; 1 Jo. 5:3; 2 Jo. 1:6). The “commandments” that He referred to were the Ten Commandments. He was the “I AM” who gave these commandments at Mount Horeb to Moses (Ex. 3:14; Jo. 8:58). His “disciples” were the “disciplined ones” in keeping His Ten Commandments. Whether you follow the Law out of love is also a test for whether you really know God: “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” (1 Jo. 2:3). “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.” (1 Cor. 7:19). If you follow the Word and the direction of the Holy Spirit out of love and not obligation, you are a witness to His light. Conversely, you dishonor God when you break it (Ro. 2:23). Likewise, when the Church ceases to preach God’s standards of morality, it ceases to be His “salt and light.” (Matt. 5:13-16). Today, things that were once called evil are now called good. God warns against this: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Is. 5:20). Thus, the Church cannot do as some Jews did and adopted mankind’s morality.

6) Testing in times of peace, plenty, and prosperity. Throughout the Bible, God reveals that He tests the hearts of His people: “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.” (Jer. 17:10; 20:12). He cannot tempt you (Jam. 1:13-14). He instead tests you to show you where your heart is evil (Jer. 17:9). David invited God to search his heart to expose his sins (Ps. 139:23). His openness to learning from his sins is what made him a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22). In the Bible, God’s testing is frequently revealed through the number 40. For example, the Jews were tested through their 40 years in the wilderness. “You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” (Dt. 8:2). Moses was tested on Mount Horeb for with 40 days without food (Ex. 34:28). Jesus was also tested after 40 days in the wilderness without food (Lk. 4:2). The Philistines also tested the Jews for 40 years (Jdgs. 13:1). What the book of Judges adds to our understanding about God’s testing is that He also tests the hearts of believers during times of peace, plenty, and prosperity. Each time God delivered the Jews, they returned to sin (Jdgs. 2:19). They turned to sin following the deaths of: (1) Joshua (Jdgs. 2:10-13); (2) Othniel (Jdgs. 3:12-14); (3) Ehud (Jdgs. 4:1); (4) Gideon (Jdgs. 9:33); and (5) Tola and Jair (Jdgs. 10:6). Beginning with Ehud, God gave the Jews three 40-year-periods of peace and prosperity during the reign of each deliverer (Jdgs. 3:11; 5:31; 9:28). The Jews failed each prior test by returning to idolatry. They then received a 45-year-period of peace as a fourth test under Tola and Jair (Jdgs. 10:1-3). With three strikes, they did not deserve another test. The extra five years (a symbol of grace) after the fourth 40-year-test symbolized God’s mercy and grace in giving them another chance to correct themselves. The western world has been blessed with an unparalleled period of peace and prosperity. God is also testing our hearts in this prosperity. We have also failed His many tests.

7) Mercy and grace. Part of His Covenant provided that He would bless the nation when they obeyed His Covenant. Yet, He also warned that He would lift His hedge of protection and allow for “curses” to discipline them when they disobeyed Him. Each time the Jews became consumed with idolatry and sin, God kept His word and allowed these “curses” to fall upon the nation. Yet, when they repented, He showed both mercy and grace by lifting these curses. “To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him;” (Dan. 9:9). “But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.” (Ps. 130:4). “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” (Ps. 86:5). Yet, believers must never misuse His mercy and grace as a license to sin more: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?” (Ro. 6:1). “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Gal. 6:7-8). Believers must therefore repent of their desires of the flesh when they reemerge. Out of love and devotion, believers should be motivated to live their lives as a living sacrifice free from sin as a thank you to Jesus for their deliverance. “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Ro. 12:2).

Judges 1: Lessons in Faith from the Jews’ Failure to Seize all the Promised Land

Introduction: The books Deuteronomy and Joshua both end with the death of great leaders for God; Moses and Joshua. The books of Joshua and Judges both begin with God’s calling for the Jews to fully claim the spiritual inheritance that He promised them in the Promised Land. Following Moses’ death, Joshua responded to that calling in faith. By contrast, following Joshua’s death, the nine and a half tribes who lived in the Promised Land responded to His calling with doubt. As a result, they failed to fully drive out the Canaanites and fully seize their inheritance. Their failures of faith would also cause them to later make accommodations with the Canaanites and stumble into sin. From this chapter, God reveals seven lessons about faith.

First, from the failure of the tribe of Judah to fight alone in response to God’s direction, He reveals that true faith never doubts His Word. Second, from Caleb’s use of his inheritance to inspire others to serve God, He reveals that true faith inspires others to serve Him. Third, from the request of Caleb’s daughter Achsah for a land with water, He reveals that believers are called upon to thirst for their full spiritual inheritance in Christ, the true water of life. Fourth, from the failure of Judah and Simeon to drive out the armored chariots of Gaza, He reveals that true faith trusts in Him and never fears the enemy. Fifth, from the compromise of Ephraim’s soldiers with the Hittites, He reveals that true faith never compromises with the enemy. Sixth, from the failure of the tribes of Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali to drive out the Canaanites, He reveals that true faith produces the fruit of obedience. Finally, from the defeat of the tribe of Dan at the hands of the Amorities, He reveals that true faith produces victory for Him.

1. True Faith Never Doubts God’s Word. Judges 1:1-8.

Hans Holbein 1497/8-1543 “The Punishment of Adonibezek” (woodcarving - 1538)3

2. True Faith Inspires Others To Serve God. Judges 1:9-13; Josh. 15:13-17.

3. True Faith Thirsts for Your Full Spiritual Inheritance. Judges 1:14-16; Josh. 18-19.

4. True Faith Never Fears the Enemy. Judges 1:17-21.

5. True Faith Does Not Compromise with the Enemy. Judges 1:22-26.

The Jews lacked the faith and obedience to drive out all the Canaanites4

6. True Faith Produces the Fruit of Obedience. Judges 1:27-33.

7. True Faith Produces Victory for God. Judges 1:34-36.